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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IA-IRISH] Bio of George Waters
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:23:36 -0600

Surnames: Waters, Hill, Eaton, Wood

Past and Present in Allamakee County, by Ellery M. Hancock. 2 vols. Chicago:
S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1913.

One of the most able, active and progressive of Allamakee county's native
sons is George Waters, who now owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred
and forty acres in Post township and who in partnership with his brother has
other extensive holdings in this locality. No one is better known as a
successful breeder and shipper of registered cattle and high-grade horses
and the business affairs which claim his attention are all well managed and
systematically conducted, bringing to him a prosperity which places him
among the men of worth and affluence in this section of the state.

Mr. Waters was born in Ludlow township, this county, on the 21st of August,
1858, and is a son of George and Sophia (Hill) Waters, natives of County
Wicklow, Ireland, the former born October 23, 1824, and the latter July 29,
1832. In early life the father was a member of the police force in County
Wicklow but in 1854 crossed the Atlantic to America, settling first in
Pennsylvania, where for four years he worked in the coal mines. In 1858 he
came west to Iowa and purchased a small farm of thirty acres in Ludlow
township, Allamakee county, which he improved and cultivated for a number of
years. In the spring of 1870 he disposed of that property and removed one
mile north in the same township, engaging in farming there until hsi death,
which occurred January 4, 1887. His wife survived him some time, dying
October 3, 1910. In their family were eleven children, of whom the subject
of this review is the third in order of birth.

George Waters acquired his education in the district schools of Ludlow
township and from an early age was a practical and able agriculturist,
having aided in the operation of the homestead and afterward working at farm
labor in the employ of others. When he was about twenty-four years of age he
operated a threshing machine throughout his locality and afterward purchased
eighty acres of land, which he cultivated and improved for two years. At the
end of that time he sold his property and rented is present farm, afterward
purchasing this tract of land, upon which he has resided continuously since
that time. This comprises one hundred and forty acres and in addition Mr.
Waters is a partner with his brother Edward in the ownership of the willow
Lawn Stock Farm, a highly improved property of three hundred and forty-nine
acres. The brothers are extensively engaged in the cattle and horse business
here, breeding registered Hereford cattle, which they ship to all parts of
the United States, their principal markets being the central states. They
are also part buyers and shippers of horses and both are reliable,
enterprising and successful business men, managing capably the important
concerns with which they are connected. In addition to his work as a
stock-raiser and agriculturist Mr. Waters is also a professional auctioneer
and has attained a wide reputation in this field, being frequently called to
other states. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Company at
Postville and in the Citizens State Bank of that city and his activities,
extending to many fields, are important as elements in the general
advancement.

On the 13th of December, 1882, Mr. Waters married Miss Eliza Eaton, who was
born in Post township on the 13th of December, 1861. She is the daughter of
Wells and Mary (Wood) Eaton, natives of Nova Scotia, Canada, the former born
March 2, 1822, and the latter April 14, 1825. The father in early life
worked at calking vessels in Nova Scotia but in 1845 came to the United
States, locating in Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming.
he was also a pioneer in Iowa, coming to this state in 1853 and locating
upon a farm in Post township, Allamakee county, whereon he continued to
reside until his death, which occurred on the 6th of May, 1881. He was one
of the leading promoters and organizers of Bethel church, was elected a
member of its first board of trustees and served in that position until his
death. His wife afterward removed to Postville, where her death occurred May
14, 1904. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom the wife of our
subject is the eighth in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Waters have two
children: Cloy E., who as born April 27, 1894; and Eaton A., born July 29,
1902.

Mr. Waters is a member of the American Hereford Cattle Breeders Association
of Kansas City, Missouri, but beyond this has no fraternal or club
affiliations. He is a man of exemplary character and genuine personal worth
and his long residence in this part of Iowa has brought him success in
business and the respect, confidence and regard of all who are associated
with him.



Cathy Joynt Labath
The Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/

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